The new season of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Replay has shaken up the meta in a big way. One of the most popular SMG classes, the fan-favorite C9, got fully banned from ranked play-a decision that's left many players feeling conflicted and searching for alternatives. As someone who enjoys the C9 myself, I'm definitely bummed to see it gone, and honestly, I still haven't deleted my C9 classes from ranked. I just can't accept that it's no longer a part of the meta.
With the C9 out of the picture, players have turned their attention to other viable SMGs, and one gun that stands out-both for its potential and its challenges-is the Compact 92. Despite being around for a while and often overlooked, the Compact 92 has unique strengths that could make it the next big thing, especially in the current meta.
Why the Compact 92?
At first glance, the Compact 92 isn't the easiest weapon to master. Its recoil is notoriously difficult to control, which can frustrate even skilled players. But here's the kicker: it boasts the fastest time to kill (TTK) at nearly every range in the game. This means that if you can land your shots, this weapon can shred enemies faster than almost anything else.
This weapon's high skill ceiling creates a huge payoff for players willing to put in the time. While the Jackal PDW remains the dominant SMG choice for many due to its mobility and easier handling, the Compact 92 offers an intriguing alternative for those wanting to mix things up or find an edge in the new meta.
So, with all that in mind, I decided to create a fresh meta-ready Compact 92 class and test it out in iridescent ranked lobbies, with the goal of winning three matches to see if it can really compete with the Jackal PDW.
Building the Meta Compact 92 Class
Let's dive into the attachments that make this class work, breaking down the reasoning behind each choice:
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Muzzle: Compensator or Ported Comp
Recoil control is a huge factor for the Compact 92, and there's a noticeable spike in recoil after the first shot. Because of this, I prefer the compensator or the ported compensator to keep that initial recoil manageable, making it easier to land follow-up shots. The first-shot recoil control these attachments provide is crucial for the gun's effectiveness.
Barrel: Reinforced vs. Long Barrel
Here, there's a bit of personal preference. The reinforced barrel boosts bullet velocity from 475 to 665, which is a huge upgrade given the Compact 92's naturally low bullet speed. This increase extends the hit-scan range, making the gun more effective in close to mid-range fights.
Alternatively, the long barrel can extend the fast TTK even further, but it comes with the downside of lower bullet velocity. For me, the reinforced barrel strikes the best balance, improving performance across the ranges I tend to engage in.
Underbarrel: Ranger Foregrip
This is essential. The Ranger foregrip offers horizontal recoil control and improves sprint-to-fire and movement speed-all critical for staying mobile and landing shots with this recoil-heavy SMG. If you're not running the Ranger, you'll likely want the vertical foregrip to help with recoil control, but I find the Ranger better supports a more aggressive, mobile playstyle.
Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip vs. Commando Grip
This is where things get interesting. The ergonomic grip boosts slide-to-fire speed and aim down sight (ADS) speed, which helps mitigate the Compact 92's sluggish ADS time-one of its biggest drawbacks.
However, if you tend to get caught sprinting often, the commando grip might be better for you, as it helps improve sprint-to-fire speed. For me, I favor the ergonomic grip because I do a lot of sliding and quick transitions into firing.
Stock: Infiltrator Stock
To maximize mobility, especially while aiming, the infiltrator stock is a must-have. It boosts aim walking movement speed, enabling you to strafe and stay elusive, which is critical when facing off against faster weapons or trying to land those precision shots.Testing the Compact 92: Iridescent Ranked Play
With the class ready, I jumped into iridescent ranked lobbies, aiming to put the Compact 92 through its paces in some serious competitive matches. Here are some highlights and insights from my gameplay:
Map Suitability
Maps like P3 Rewind were perfect for the Compact 92, allowing for close quarters and mid-range engagements where the weapon excels. On the other hand, maps like Red Card or Vault Protocol weren't as forgiving, requiring me to adjust my playstyle or limit my movement to certain areas to make the gun viable.
Handling the Recoil and Mobility Challenges
The biggest challenge remained the recoil and slower sprint-to-fire and ADS speeds. Staying mobile, sliding, and strafing as much as possible was crucial. The Compact 92 rewards players who can master its recoil and timing, but those caught sprinting or in open long-range battles would often get punished.
Playstyle Adjustments
Because the Compact 92 doesn't have the same all-around mobility as the Jackal PDW, I had to lean into more strategic positioning, holding certain hills or key areas instead of constantly rushing. This defensive-aggressive hybrid style worked well on specific maps but felt limiting on others.
Wins and Highlights
I managed to secure my three wins with the Compact 92, which was a satisfying achievement given the weapon's reputation for being tough to master. Some clutch moments included:
Holding key points on maps like Rewind, where the close-quarter potential of the Compact 92 shined.
Landing clean headshots with the fast TTK, punishing aggressive enemy pushes.
Surviving and winning engagements that would have been difficult with slower TTK weapons.
But even with those wins, the Compact 92 still felt like a situational weapon rather than a one-size-fits-all choice.
Comparing the Compact 92 to the Jackal PDW
At the end of the day, the question is: Is the Compact 92 worth using over the Jackal PDW?
The Jackal PDW still holds the edge for most players due to:
Superior mobility and sprint-to-fire speed.
Easier recoil control.
Reliable performance across all ranges.
The Compact 92's main selling point is its blazing fast TTK, but this comes at the cost of harder recoil management and slower movement and ADS speeds. If you're confident in your aim and recoil control, and if you're playing on maps that favor close to mid-range combat, the Compact 92 can be a deadly option.
However, for more general play, especially on larger or more open maps, the Jackal remains king.
Final Thoughts
The ban of the C9 meta class has pushed the Black Ops 6 community into a period of experimentation and adaptation. The Compact 92 stands out as a high-risk, high-reward SMG that can surprise opponents and offer a fresh playstyle for those tired of the usual meta weapons.
While it's not the easiest gun to master, investing time into understanding recoil patterns, movement options, and map-specific strategies can make the Compact 92 a viable competitive weapon. Whether it dethrones the Jackal PDW remains to be seen, but for now, it offers an exciting alternative for players seeking a faster TTK and a unique challenge.
If you're looking for a meta shake-up and enjoy pushing your mechanical skills, the Compact 92 class is definitely worth a shot.
